* 7-day point prevalence abstinence from smoking at 7 and 60 days after quit date [ Time Frame: 7 days and 60 days after quit date ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Original Secondary Outcome Measures ICMJE

Same as current

Current Other Outcome Measures ICMJE

Not Provided

Original Other Outcome Measures ICMJE

Not Provided

Descriptive Information

Brief Title ICMJE

Twitter-enabled Mobile Messaging for Smoking Relapse Prevention

Official Title ICMJE

Twitter-enabled Mobile Messaging for Smoking Relapse Prevention

Brief Summary

In Phase I (first 12 months), consistent with Aim 1, we have developed a treatment protocol for smoking cessation and relapse prevention that uses virtual quit-smoking Twitter groups and Twitter-enabled interactive peer messaging. We are in the process of testing and refining this protocol using 40 participants in 2 quit-smoking Twitter groups. In Phase II (24 months), consistent with Aim 2, we will conduct a two-condition (test vs. control) randomized controlled trial of the treatment protocol created in Phase I. This research will provide crucial pilot data about the viability and methodology of a larger randomized controlled trial that would directly measure smoking behavior.

Detailed Description

Smoking relapse rates remain high, innovative strategies are needed to lower them, and web-based social networking may help like Twitter. This developmental research examines whether providing virtual (web-based) social support to smokers, through Twitter-enabled interactive peer texting, can help smokers quit and avoid relapses. Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service, one of the most advanced and novel technologies available today that can provide social support to smokers, and it is the only service that provides free texting to groups. It is global and has many features that are associated with treatment success including interactive, multi-way, live messaging and mobile accessibility, because the messages go instantly to mobile phones and to the web. It can provide an innovative way to reach smokers who might otherwise not seek treatment, and it can be extended to other health domains.

In Phase II which started in fall 2012, we conducted a two-condition randomized controlled trial (Aim 2). All participants (N=240) received 8 weeks of free nicotine patches, referral to the NCI's online Smokefree.gov Quit Guide, and instruction to set a quit date within 8 days of study start. Participants were also randomly assigned at the individual level to one of two conditions: (1) a virtual quit-smoking Twitter group condition where the group members were instructed to use Twitter-enabled interactive peer messaging to help them quit and stay quit, or (2) a control group condition where the group members were not given this instruction or a Twitter group. In total, there will be 6 Twitter groups and 6 control groups with 20 smokers randomly assigned to each group (i.e., N=120 test, N=120 control). Outcomes include self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence at 7, 30 and 60 days after the quit date. Participants' tweets, their virtual and face-to-face social networks, and several other mediating and moderating variables will also be analyzed.

All participants will receive 8 weeks of free nicotine patches, referral to the NCI's online Smokefree.gov Quit Guide, and instruction to set a quit date within 8 days of study start.

Behavioral: Twitter

Twitter quit-smoking group

Study Arm (s)

Experimental: Twitter

Experimental participants are assigned a 20-person twitter quit-smoking group to interact with, are instructed to use Twitter-enabled interactive peer messaging,and are sent daily messages to encourage interaction. The baseline intervention 'smoking cessation aides' is also provided.

Interventions:

Behavioral: smoking cessation aides

Behavioral: Twitter

Active Comparator: Control

Control participants are not assigned to a twitter group. The baseline intervention 'smoking cessation aides' is also provided.

Intervention: Behavioral: smoking cessation aides

Publications *

Not Provided

* Includes publications given by the data provider as well as publications
identified by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number) in Medline.